My Sunday guest is the fabulous Amber Lea Easton and her novel

Welcome to the blog Amber

Thanks for
hosting me, Elodie! I’m glad to be here
to feature my new release, Riptide, a romantic suspense novel
that’s only been out since August.

Where do I
begin with this story? Sometimes an
author is lucky enough to be able write characters that she truly identifies
with from a place deep inside her heart that pours out a wealth of
emotion. That’s how Riptide flowed from me.

The
definition of Riptide is “a
stretch of turbulent water in the sea, caused by the meeting of currents or
abrupt changes in depth. Also called rip current, a strong current, especially
one flowing outwards from the shore, causing disturbance on the surface.” For
me, that definition sums up this story perfectly, hence the title.

A story about
starting over, learning to trust again, opening to love after intense
heartbreak, and overcoming tremendous obstacles on the path to happiness, Riptide is truly an abrupt change in
depth for my lead characters, Lauren Biltmore and Noah Reynolds. Both have been hurt in the past, some would
call them damaged. They don’t trust
easily, but find that sometimes together is better than alone, even if that
means risking everything for a chance at having it all.

One violent night shatters Lauren Biltmore’s
life. As an anchorwoman, she’s
accustomed to reporting the news rather than being the lead story. She escapes the spotlight by fleeing to her
brother’s home in the Cayman Islands. Haunted
by nightmares, all she wants is a distraction from reality.

Distraction
arrives in the form of sexy screenwriter, Noah Reynolds. His take-me-to-bed looks mask a past ripe
with scandal. He knows he should stay
away from Lauren, especially when the worst night of her life unlocks his
writer’s block and while he’s dealing with a stalker of his own, but ethics
aren’t exactly his specialty.

Attraction
sizzles beneath Caribbean sunshine. As
their relationship grows, Noah’s stalker intensifies her torment. Lauren wonders if her paranoia is justified
or a carryover from her past. What’s
real? What’s imagined?

Tentative
trust is tested as their love is swept up against a riptide of deceit, murder
and revenge.

Riptide
excerpt:

Surrendering,
she leaned her head against his shoulder and held on as if her life depended on
it. When he wrapped his arms around her, she closed her eyes. He felt like a
safe haven in a storm.

“When
you look at me, do you think about why I’m here or what I’ve done like Larry
does? Tell me the truth,” she whispered against his neck.

“No,
I don’t. That’s the truth.” Fingers on her chin, he tilted her face up to look
at him. “I see a beautiful woman who’s my friend’s sister and who I’ve been
having elicit fantasies about for nearly forty-eight hours even though I know
it’s a bad idea.”

“It
is a bad idea.” She stared into his eyes as if trying to see his soul. She
needed at least one person in this world who didn’t think of her as damaged.
“You don’t know me. You don’t know what I’m capable of. I saw the way you
looked at me back there. You were wondering if I’d snap.”

“Because
a man had been shot next to you, not because of your past. Damn it, I’m shaken
up myself.” He pressed his forehead against hers. “You tried to protect me,
wanted me to tamper with evidence, that’s sexy as hell.”

She
grinned despite the weight that had fallen on her shoulders. “I wanted to see
what was in the envelope.”

“Ahh...so
you were driven by curiosity.” His thumb traced the curve of her lower lip.
“You’re one helluva woman, Lauren Biltmore.”

In
the darkness, it was hard to tell if the shadows across his face were caused by
clouds over the moon or unspoken emotion.

“No
one’s trying to hurt me.” His grin seemed fake. “Let’s get you back to
Austin’s.”

She
held him when he would have stepped back. “You’re lying.”

He
pushed his hands through her hair, gaze scanning her face. “Like you said, I
don’t know you, and you don’t know me. Maybe it’s best if we stop this before
it goes any further. You don’t need my kind of trouble in your life right now.”

“Maybe
your kind of trouble is exactly what I need.” She kissed him because the
adrenaline surging through her body needed release, and he was the perfect
outlet.

He
matched her intensity with a fierceness that weakened her knees. She sagged
against him, hands clinging to his shoulders for support. Trouble or not, the
man kissed like a porn star. Damn, he melted the skin from her bones with every
stroke of his tongue against hers.

Her
hands roamed over his shoulders to his back. She pressed closer, craving skin
on skin. One thought and one thought only penetrated her mind...sex. She wanted
him inside her. Now. Fast. To hell with the consequences.

Together
they fell against the sand with laughter tangled between their lips. Somewhere
between fleeing a crime scene and kissing, fear had transitioned to passion.
She needed his touch, his mouth, his body heavy against hers. Desire consumed
every cell of her body.

“We’re
the most unethical people I know,” he said against her mouth. “I shouldn’t be
proud of that, but strangely I am.”

“Take
me back to Austin’s. Stay with me.” She caught his lip lightly between her
teeth and stared into his eyes.

His
hand slid beneath her skirt and up her thigh. “I don’t know if we’re good or
bad for each other. I’m not thinking clearly at all around you, making bad
decisions, dragging you along with me.”

“I’m
going willingly.” She nipped his neck, her hands smoothing down his back before
grabbing his ass. “We have too many clothes on.”

“And
we’re on a beach within view of anyone who happens to walk by and look closely
enough.” He laughed against the side of her face. “Let me take you home.”

“And
you’ll stay with me?” She kissed him again, unwilling to let him go. He felt
too damn good pressing her into the cool sand at her back.

His
kiss softened and teased as his hand caressed her naked thigh beneath the
skirt, his thumb moving over her panties. She hungered for him like a woman
coming off a diet craved chocolate.

“I’m
such a bastard,” he whispered before rolling off of her and covering his face
with his hands. “I can’t do this. It’s not right.”

The
abruptness of his absence rattled her. They laid side-by-side, their breathing
labored and a sea of stars above them.

“Do
what? Me? Us? What can’t you do?” she asked even though she didn’t want to
talk. No, talking was the furthest thing from her agenda.

“I
can’t be the man you need me to be.” He sat up and looked toward the ocean.
“That’s just how it is. I’m not a good guy. It’s for the best. Trust me.”

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